The beginning.

We got Otis, a golden retriever puppy, from a very reputable breeder in October of 2009 when he was 9 weeks old. He was the largest of the litter--my choice--and the husband let me choose which golden ball of fluff we would call our own. He named our little man Otis--after a dog he used to own years ago. When we first got him, he looked like a fat little manatee...and on the first night he collapsed in his water bowl. Adorable.

I've not been what you would call a "dog person". In fact, I've never had a puppy/dog. We currently have two cats--Butch and Jasmine--and I was perfectly happy with my feline companions. But 'tis true what they say...there is nothing like a puppy, and I was smitten from day 1. And my husband truly found a best friend. We were in heaven. Well, at least the kind of heaven that includes cleaning up accidents and saying "no!". From that time, Otis has been our constant companion...rambunctious, happy, kind and gentle. A perfect golden. He especially loved playing in the autumn leaves.

But not long after Christmas 2009, we noticed Otis having trouble standing up from a lying position and limping after vigorous play. Concerned, we got x-rays in early February which confirmed our suspicion...Otis was dysplastic in both hips. Our reaction, of course, was serious devastation.

This is our documentation of Otis's journey dealing with hip dysplasia. Next Thursday, February 18th, Otis will receive the first of two Triple Pelvic Osteotomies (TPO) on his right hip and we will embark upon a 10+ week adventure. We're in it for the long haul, and we think the sharing will be therapeutic for us, and hopefully informative for anyone dealing with TPO. To be honest, we have no idea what to expect, and we're a bit apprehensive, but I suppose we'll deal with that in time.

For now, here are some more photos of our Otes-man (affectionately known as "man-man"):

"Stay, Otis, staaaaay..."

Soon he'll be running through the grass just like he used to...